Who's got your back Pt. 1: Chapter 18 OVA 4A/N: As mentioned, this will be a three part series before the Battle of Vale begins. Mere days before the Grimm hoard is set to reach the walls of the Vale Kingdom, all of Beacons students come together for one final initiation into there ranks. From foe to family, this is how it ends, and a new story begins...
ROBIN: (Hallway in Beacon Academy, destination simulation room...)
The hallways were nearly dead, it seemed as if only Atlas mech and military personnel were walking the halls, no that was surely the case. Students or just anyone in a Beacon uniform was non exsistent.
"I think we're running late, it's way to quiet." Ariel stated the obvious, awarding her a eye roll and a scoff.
"She's a smart one..."
"Zzzzz.." Peach snorted a sound like a snore and looked away,
"Fire in this one here huh. And she smells so good, wish I could be so fresh and so clean like she is." Hero noticably winced,
"Sorry Peach, I have no idea why this meeting was called." Hero commented, shaking his head in the process. "I know you wanted a break, my tails are tied." He spread he hands out with his palms up,
"Uhhh... it's all your fault Hero, clearly... did you just make a cat joke? Zzzz.." Hero cleared his throat into his hand,
"Sorry, just lightening the mood."
"Noted Hero boy." Peach giggled again. "Now back to my bitching," she turned her head towards Robin, "Pardon my French kid... I was hoping to at least shower after getting back from hitting the mine, nuuppe!" Peach complained looking forward again, her hands placed on the back of her head with her arms out. "You've failed us as a team leader." Her lip curled into a grin that Meat seemed to miss.
"Blame the student council, it's not his fault!" Seafood to the rescue!! "They've been busy since they've been back at school." Ariel defended. "For that fact, blame the main reason we're in this war for... By the way, it's good to see you up and about Robin."
"It wasn't anything serious, meat. I'm fine." Robin sneered,
"You can be as stank as you want, I know one day you'll open up to me cutie pie!" Robin blushed and turned away. "How cute!"
"Gross. Brother, your dinner is acting weird again." Robin crossed her arms and avoided Ariel's piercing baby faced gaze.
"Actually it's the other way around, shes the hungry beast known as Jaws, eager to devour cute kitties and little red birdies." Peach teased and Robin caught sight of Ariel's eyes flashing black as she glanced towards Peach.
"I, am not a beast!" Ariel cried out in defense with her chest puffed out, "But don't make me angry, or... I will have no choice but to make you understand who the Queen is, again."
"Oooooo, cocky." Peach replied with a little bow, "The new little mermaid is a fiery one eh Robin?" Peach white knuckled her large white long sword and smiled down at Robin. Peach was a skyscraper compared to Robin.
"Don't let the scary brute known as Groot fool you, she's a softy," Ariel announced while Peach scoffed, "Just like me, Ariel the kind and loving princess."
"As kind as the dirt stuck on my boot." Peach retorted and received a black eyed glare from Ariel, while Peach responded with a grin while dropping her shades with her middle finger. "Heh."
"You've gotten quite the mouth huh?" Ariel asked, "This must be Groot two point oh."
"You like?" Peach replied sharply as she shot her a wink.
"It depends on the motives." Ariel shook her head, not amused. "I'd say to be yourself." Peach shrugged nonchalantly.
"Exactly." She took a deep breath before responding. "A good friend taught me a valuable lesson. This is something we do for a living, drowning down about it won't change anything. Nothing is ever guaranteed in this life style. There is no try, we do, or we don't." She paused as she gathered her thoughts, "That being said, I'm not going to hold back any more. I'm going to enjoy myself as best as I can and live up to the way she did. Before, Rouge... she died with a smile, she was happy, she had no regrets...She made choices in life and she never looked back." Peach cleared her throat and sniffed hard. Hero laid a hand on Peaches shoulder. "I've done my grieving, there isn't anything else to do but to keep moving forward, keep getting better."
"That's correct Peach." Hero nodded and thumped her shoulder. "I could not have said that better." She nodded back and let the hand that was still on her shoulder,
"So I wouldn't say new me, I'd say real me. Me who is just enjoying every quiet moment with my family." She said warmly as she spread her arms open and looked around to her teammates. "Besides, someone has to tease the catfish annnnnnnd..." Peach paused as Ariel's normally pale face turned blood red and her amber eyes were wide, "make her turn as ripe as a juicy tomato."
"Not nice!" Ariel huffed,
"Better then steamed crab..." Hero commented and earned a tug at his one good ear, "That's rude." He said while firmly holding his ground.
"Watch your hand before I take it for myself Meat, your looking awfully tasty right now."
"Awww you're jealous, so cute!" Ariel rushed over and pinched her cheek. Hero's hand was instantly on Robins, hers were on the hilt of Fira, or would have been if it wasn't already in Hero's other hand. Damn! He disarmed her before she could even make a move, well clearly he seen it coming. Brother was good when he really needed to be. Normally he didn't exert much of his strength in combat.
"Let's not jump to action so quickly now." He scolded as he handed Bandon back towards Robin, hilt first.
"Why thank you brother, I would never." She plastered a fake smile on that was clearly fake, "I would never do anything to hurt my beloved Meat. First we need to fatten her up, more."
"More?!" Ariel shouted with her fist raised. "You calling me fat?"
"I certainly wasn't calling you skinny." Robin replied without missing a beat.
"Hit me!" Peach called out with her palm extended. Robin just glared at it, then offered her a grin while slapping it. "There we go! That's my girl! She may be little, but she sure got a mouth on her!"
"I know! She's too cute!!" Ariel squealed and fidgeted,
"Gross!" Robin cringed,
Finally out of the infirmary, Hero and his team came back from the 3rd dust mine to pick Robin up for a meeting that had been called for all students by the student council. Nobody knew what the meeting was for, all that was told was attendance was a must. Team HARP was the last team to come back after being gone for 22 hours.
Sleeping on the Bullheads was not comfy in the least, unless you were in a team ROSE Bullhead which had plush silk couches that reclined and could comfortably fit 8 grown adults in fully reclined positions. When not needed, the couches folded and disappeared into the floor. Each couch could also but summoned individually for smaller parties. So maybe it wasn't all that terrible.
Robin focused in on the side of her brothers head, where Archangel had claimed yet another prize.
"So, does it hurt?" Robin questioned her brother, who shook his head. Robin reached out and ran her fingers through his snow white hair, fingering the small hole where his cat ear used to be.
"See, no pain anymore. Just getting use to the lack of sound, I can still hear out of it, just not as good as before. But I'm fine, really." She tilted her head to observe his new look, well mainly a feline faunus with only one ear.
Inside it made her blood boil, it wasn't the same. He took something from her brother that made him whole, something precious and loved. That same monk was responsible for the loss of his tail as a child, and the reason Robin always woke up every day to the deep scar on her face, all gifts given from Archangel. He acclaimed it would make her look fearsome, so he forged a Katana made of corrupted purple dust and tried to take her nose off with a diagonal slash, he partly succeeded. Robin wrinkled her nose and shook her head to clear it of her current negative thoughts.
After trekking through nearly the entire school it felt like, they finally made it to the outside of one of the larger simulation rooms. Hero reached out to hold the door open for them.
"Ladies first."
"Hey Jaws." Peach said as,
"I hate you." Ariel quickly responded,
"Aww, poor Meat." Robin quickly added,
"Cook us up some munchies when we-" Peach continued before she was cut off.
"Ah the guests of honor have finally arrived! Welcome, Hero, Ariel, Peach and Robin." Robins eyes fell on the pink haired bunny faunus in the middle of the arena, flanked by a group of three colorful girls, as well as Opal and her lackeys. Around them was every single student that attended Beacon, all crammed into the enormous stadium like simulation room, and all eyes fell upon them as Hero bowed slightly.
"Forgive us for being late, student council President, students of Beacon. I could have sworn this was starting 30 minutes from now." Robin glanced at the scroll Peach and given her and seen they were indeed 32 minutes early.
"You are correct, you four are here just in time actually! We didn't even get to finish the meeting!" The pink bunny exclaimed.
"Uh, finish?" Peach muttered, turning to Hero and dropping her voice to a whisper, "Any idea?" He shook his head.
"Let's see how this plays out..."
"You're the Boss..."
"Come on in, don't be shy!" The pink bunny waved them forward, all eyes were still eagerly focused on the four of them.
"Awkward..." Ariel mumbled.
"No kidding, I feel like we're taking Ariel to be sacrificed to the gods as holy food." Robin whispered as they passed through the ranks of students.
"That's rude girl..." Peach whispered while chuckling in her palm,
"Since you are here now, let's get started okay?! Opal would you like to do the honors?"
"Ah em!" Opal cleared her throat, eyes closed as she started to speak. "Five days, we have five days until the first wave of Grimm make it here. With the sheer number of Grimm involved, as well as all the Shadow Guards they are no doubt with, I and the Council have come up with a way to prepare for the coming battle, as well, as usher in a few other things as well. We also know of the slight tension many of you feel considering a certain new comer to our great academy. Well my friends, if you ever wanted to fight against her, nows your chance." Opals eyes opened and her gaze turned down onto Robin the small and puny girl before her. "Robin Nakamura, former agent of the man we are currently at war with, or should I say daughter. The younger sister of our very own, Heliotrope Chroma, former Stark Nakamura before we welcomed him into our family... Before each of us became students here, we all went through initiation. Today is yours whelp, come to my side." Opal stretched out her hand and waved it over. Robin glanced at Hero who merely shrugged and nodded.
"What are you planning now brute?" Robin asked as she made her way infront of the towering skyscraper girl.
"As I said, we will be facing a large number of opponents, so to prepare we are having a team death match. Now, the teams are... Team Beacon, led by me, and Team Robin, led by Robin. Beacon, versus Robin. Catchy no?" A few gasps and giggles rang out among all the students.
"Your kidding right?" Peach asked, Opal raised her hand to bring order among the murmuring students, all obeyed.
"Now, the rules are as follows, we will begin in one hour. Each of you as an individual can pick which team you wish to be on, there are no limits. For example, if half of team OPAL wants to join Robin, so be it. If only Linen wants to join, fine as well. If the entire school joins me against Robin leaving her to fend for herself, so be it. It won't serve my purposes, but I doubt it will be a landslide like that. On the other hand, if everyone joined her against me," Opal snorted, "I welcome the challenge. Student council teams will act as judges and medics. For this if your aura drops below 20%, your out. If you feel you are hurt above that and want to drop out, so be it. However, all must participate starting out. Now, there are two entrances to this room, A and B. Beacon is A, Robin is B. The goal is to take out the other team leader, you do that and your team earns victory simple. We will begin in 1 hour, everyone but me and Robin will now leave, and make your choice of who you wish to fight with. Choose wisely, dismissed." Students started exiting the room as Hero walked over to Opal. "Heliotrope, I said dismissed." Opal said sharply, nodding towards the exit, her eyes closed again. He bowed slightly and nodded towards Robin before he spun and followed the crowd out.
After about 10 minutes, the large stadium was finally clear, leaving Opal and Robin alone, standing face to face. If she was to whisper, her echo would be heard for days.
"So, are you one of those that feels the need to fight me to release tension as well?" Robin asked.
"No." Opal quickly replied, "I gave you your beating remember? So I'm satisfied, well..."
"Hmmpf, fine." Robin cracked her knuckles, "This could be a release of my own tension. Your lackeys stand no chance against me." Robin started to stretch her arms and shoulders out,
"Is that so? You think you can stand against them alone?"
"That's right brute. You, not so much. But your team pftt, your colorful little discipline squad. And your sweet drink little partner is top on that list." Both Opals eyes opened and her brow almost rose off of her face.
"Oh!? Is that so? You take her down and I'll tell you the story on how I met her, it's a good one I promise. Anyway, I will be holding back and staying towards the rear, only attacking those who try to attack me. It wouldn't be fun if I went out and took people out the 10's with just one hit now would it." Opal scoffed with a grin, taking on a cocky attitude Robin was not accustomed to, "Many will try to rush me, but ultimately fail. I didn't earn the name untouchable Queen for no reason."
"Yet another one? Pftt, spare me the details miss Quake. So what's really your goal here?"
"Blow off some steam, have some fun, and get some practice in."
"Have some, fun?" Robin questioned.
"Listen whelp, in five days us, kids, not mindless Grimm or soldiers, are going to do battle against forces capable of unspeakable nature, capable of wiping out an entire Kingdom twice over is they wanted. We all swore an oath that we would defend the citizens of Remnant at all costs, any cost. Being co-leader of the Security Committee, or Judgement Squad as we're referred to inside school grounds, I know what that oath ultimately means, I know what's out there, I know tonight can be my last night on Remnant, but I choose to fight and protect those who can't until my dying breath. I fight so that those students learning in the halls of Beacon Academy are safe, and have a peaceful home to learn and return to. And now I am sending those I wish to protect into battle with me, one that not everyone may survive." Her eyes opened and she glared down at Robins small form, "When fighting WITH, the Shadow Guard Legion, it's not just another soldier, weapon or tool being killed. It's someone's son, someone's daughter. Cousin, sister, or even someone's brother that's being sent to fight, sent to die if need be. These just aren't soldiers or minions, these are my friends. My family." Her glare turned into a grin, "So what better way for my family to rid of steam and tension then letting them have a shot at Beacons public enemy number 3? Am I right?"
"Three? Why not one? At least two..."
"Is that what you got out of all that?" Opal let out a long sigh and placed her hands on her hips. "Well, public enemy number one was... a close family member of the team my cousin Yatsuhashi is on, Rouge. Also was a team member of your brother. I've heard tons of stories about that girl when I came back." Opal let a snort of breath escape, "If only I was still in school, I would have had the poor girl rotting in the cell like you. I'm sure she would have busted out and put up a fight, I say I do love those that put up a good fight. I would have loved to meet her, and also have a student with her drive and strength." No kidding, the brute couldn't get her full. "But with all the pranks she would pull, her and her accomplice Kayreen Goodwitch, who happens to be the daughter of our very own Professor Glynda Goodwitch, right hand of Headmaster Ozpin. Public enemy number two, Kayreen Goodwitch. She pulls at least four pranks a day. Ranging from water spills, people losing clothes or it being set on fire, others I can't go into details about in the spa rooms, she has a fetish for ruining lives... She would have been awarded the rank of one, had she not begged that it stay as is. She's another fighter, and a damn good one, luckily for her. And also thankfully her mom is able to rein her in easily, ah, and Ariel as well. I need someone with that girls talents on the security committee. First squad has been lacking, only now have they started watch lists patrols since I've been back. Those two should have had patrols on them at all times to keep those brats out of trouble. Alot could have been prevented with the nuisances those two became. And with our graduation coming up, I fear this place will fall to shambles, but, I'm starting to see a Team with a strong candidate for the next Judgement Squad opening."
"Hold on a sec brute, why are you telling me all this and the politics of your little cult?"
"Legions of Royal and Shadow Guards and little agents bowing to their master is a cult. This is not a cult, that cute pink bunny is actually in charge, though we all report to either Ozpin, Glynda, or Qrow. Who then report to the world council. Consider the Judgement Squads as the military for the school, the Student Council as congress, senators, and those three Professors make up the Presidential branch, even if Headmaster Ozpin always has the last say, he has never, been in disagreement with our decisions. Simply put, the council is the voice, and we are the fist. Do you understand?"
"Again, why are you telling me all this extra info?"
"Well that's simple, but I'll let you think about it before I tell you. And besides, what better way to pass the time?"
"I could have come up with a few ideas..."
"Well this worked just fine and will serve my purposes in the end, besides." Opal guestured to the door behind her as it rose from the ground and a small crowd started to spill through, looking like almost the whole school. She picked up the faint sound behind her as well, a much smaller group of students entering from the rear. Opal never looked back at her approaching allies, so Robin did the same, even if a large smirk spread across Opals lips made her curiosity skyrocket. "So, that's how it's going to be?" Opal questioned as her grin faded and her eyes closed.
"That's right, partner." Someone from behind her said, a voice that sounded way too familiar, but before she could turn and confirm, someone placed a hand on her shoulder. Expecting to see her brother Hero, she turned her head to face a girl who was not to much taller then herself.
"Don't worry kid, we've got your back." Her brown eye winked as she replaced the dark black shades back onto her face. She placed a hand on her hip and waved her hand bag in the air towards Opal. "Nice way to kick things off, Yatsu's all hyped up, you couldn't tell but he's stoked!" Robin turned to the spitting image giant of Opal, just a male version. He wore the straight face Opal always had on, though his seemed plastered on. He nodded slightly and Opal returned it with one of her own.
"Yatsu-sama."
"Opal-san." He replied while boy with red hair and white eyes standing next to the giant snorted.
"Coco, I can't say I'm surprised by your choice, well maybe I'm a little surprised."
"What can I say," Coco shrugged and dropped her shades, "sometimes you gotta go with the winning team."
"Oh, and is that the only reason?"
"Now now Officer Daichi, this day isn't about me now is it?"
"Good dodge, and good point." Opal replied Robin looked behind her other shoulder and realized the one she had called partner, was indeed Opals partner.
"Don't get it twisted brat, I only want to fight Opal. Get in my way and I won't hesitate to take you out."
"Quite the team player like always huh, Piña." Opal commented with closed eyes.
"Eh, you of all people know I just want a good fight. Fighting your little protégé would bore me half to death, fighting you on the other hand, now that's a good time." She sneered,
"I think you and the whelp will get along just fine, both all bark no bite hmm?" One of her eyes opened as she spun her giant Halberd with two fingers.
"It's fine fruit cup, I know you were just too scared to fight me, so you joined my team."
"Oh no, she didn't!" Someone called out,
"Bro she totally called Medusa a fruit cup!"
"Dude 100 lien says she smashes her after she turns her to stone!"
"150 says she doesn't even wait and goes straight to smashing!"
"Your on-"
"ENOUGH!" Opal shouted, making everyone in the area jump from her outburst, everyone except her teammates of course. The room got silent aside from a chuckle Piña had let out. Robin turned to Piña who was glaring at her.
"Don't worry pigeon, I'll give you yours in due time. But right now I'm not looking to waste my time on kid assassins." Opal with a raised brow.
"Piña, play nice."
"Oh please, this is Beacon vs Slave Pigeon is it not? Let's get this started." Was there a penalty for taking out your own teammate? Robin would be sure find a loop hole.
"Yes, play nice sweet P. No one asked you to be here."
"What did you just-"
"ARE WE DONE-"
"PAUSE!" Robin turned to the voice of Chris who interupted the brute and her side drink with his hand up. "My leader is being a bitch, can I join your team officer Daichi mam sir?" He mocked with a poor excuse of a bow.
"What is the problem now?" Opal sighed out loud,
"He's getting all mad cause I said his new girl has a serious pair of wobbly wobs that I wanted to flick."
"Excuse me??" Opal glared down at the poor man before her as if ready to strike him down where he stood.
"You know, wobbly wobs, gazongas, huge honkers, melons, MELN, you know what I'm talking bout. PINK funbags?... anyways... I'm asking if I can switch sides, I need to slap this fool around." Opal looked as if her head was about to explode in 5, 4, 3, 2...
"Fine, move it." He stepped out from her side and made his way over to the other side, joining Opals ranks with his blonde teammate behind him. Wait... what the hell?
GASP*
Rang out through the room as everyone caught on. Did Opal really just let him talk to her like that, interupted her, AND, let him join her team??
"You too as well?" Opal questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"I owe my partner one, besides, we gotta score to settle with those HARP chumps." Opal quickly jerked her head back and Kayreen followed Chris to her side.
"Settle away former dust queen." Brothers pet fish stepped up and commented. "It will always end the same." She taunted.
Robin turned her head behind to face the small crowd of students who now were at her back, on her side. Of course Hero and his teammates were there, including his pink armored friend and his girl with the wings. Most others she recognized from the day when she attacked that party. The ruthless small red sycthe Huntress who cut down a countless number of her Guards, who was now wearing an adorable smile as she waved towards Robin. The black attired girl with black cat ears, her face had a scowl on it. The blond who she had taken out so easily, who had apparently put brother in the infirmary was wearing a grin, she pumped her fists,
"I expect a rematch after this kiddo." She smirked,
"Don't go easy on her Yang." The white snow princess huffed as she crossed her arms, "She owes us big time for this."
"Don't be to hard on her Snow Angel, I did get to spank her brother so we're half even!" Yang said with a wide grin and her cybernetic hand resting on her right hip. "Plus, the secrets out on what she can do."
"Play nice Yang," Pyrrha, the scarlet haired warrior she met during the dust raids, layed a hand on Yangs shoulder, "she's a good kid, and a strong Huntress to be." Pyrrha smiled warmly,
"All is forgiven right?" Jaune said steadily as the rest of his team nodded.
"Who would've thought Hero had such a cute litte sister! She's almost cuter then Ruby!" Nora cried out,
"I heard that!" Ruby squealed.
As they continued there banter, Robin looked around and recognized more from the day they infiltrated her home and rescued her and Hero. I, mean... capture?...
"She's worthy." A blond pretty boy said, a shy blue deer faunus half hiding behind him, her cheeks flush.
"We've got your back." She muttered. A dark skinned male clothed in all brown offered her a small two fingered salute. Who was he... "Oh, is this yours??" Came to mind as she remembered the hand she had severed, the hand waving now was no doubt a cybernetic replacement. The would be nurse in training Strawberry Bonbon also adorable cat faunus with green eye glasses. The most adorable thing Robin had ever seen in her life had one arm through Wenges, and the other on her hip, holding the holster to her mini crossbow. She was however wearing a smile.
"Happy to be here." She purred. "I can't let one of my patients to get hurt now can I?" She commented.
There were many others, including a team of all guys, two of them had ripped abs fully exposed. Another team consisted of a dark skinned female with green hair who was petting down a dark pink haired girl with bells tied to her Princess Leia buns. A spitting image of Strawberry, though she had a pink tail that was wrapped around her and the darker girl.
"Meowning!" she cried out with two paws out and one eye closed, two redheads stood beside her, one light skinned in glasses, the other dark with a hood over her head. Both had green eyes and looked almost like perfect twins with opposite color parents.
Now they were here, on her side and unified. What a shocking turn of events to say the least. What was Opal trying to get at here. She took a deep breath before turning back around to face Opal. Why would these people side with her, after all she's done to them. It wasn't much compared to the large crowd on Opals side, but Robin was still expecting far less of a turn out, especially to the people she had caused harm to.
"Hey whelp, don't lose your cool just yet. We have yet to start." Opal fixed Robin with a stern look on her face. Robin gave her a nod. "Now, Madem President please go over the layout before we begin." The pink bouncy bunny stepped back up and curtsied while taking a deep breath before she started,
"My fellow students, we will be playing a classic Beacon game of King Castle. This consists of two teams, the defender and the attacker." She gestured to Opal and Robin respectively. "The objective for the attacker is to break through all the defenses the defending teams sets up. The ultimate objective is to break through all defenses to get to the leader Opal, and take the throne from her and place your own flag in its place. If at any point Robin is defeated, that counts as a loss as well. Naturally, you will be scored on your performance and tactics used to get to her. As no one has ever taken the defenders completely out before-"
COUGH COUGH* A pink haired ram next to the bunny interupted,
"Other than team MELN," the bunny tried to say humbly while the ram nodded her head multiple times in approval, "we've made scoring systems so even if it's a loss, we can still grade you and council you after. You will have ten minutes to strategize before the game begins." She raised her pink fan skyward, "Engage protocol papa, infinite, november, king. Setting nuke city seven." The floor started to vibrate slightly as the simulation room started projecting buildings and roads, a giant stadium in the middle. "Ten minutes start now, get to your perspective areas!" She shouted and bounced away with a wave one last time as the arena continued to put up more random buildings around, making it look and feel like and actual city.
"Well whelp, get moving."
"I'll be seeing you soon brute."
"Looking forward to it."
"Team ROBIN, let's move!" Hero shouted as they turned and ran to find a better position to plan out there attack...